Carton construction for rifles and the like



CARTON CONSTRUCTION FOR RIFLES AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 14, 1962 D. l. SMALL Nov. l0, 1964 6 Sheefcs-SheeiQlV zNvENToR N Doma/ p I. SMA/ L Nov. 1G, 1964 D. l. SMALL CARTON CONSTRUCTION FOR RIFLES AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 14, 1962 l 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV EN TOR.

.DONALD I. SMALL BY Pneu/ man n? S Nov. 10, 1964' D. l. SMALL CARTON CONSTRUCTION Foa RTFLEs AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 14, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 NVENTOR. .D0/VALL SMALL BY *271% Nov, l0, 1964 D. l. SMALL CARTON CONSTRUCTION FOR RIFLES AND THE LIKE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 14, 1962 Nov. 10, 1964 n.1.sMALL CARTON CONSTRUCTION FOR RIFLES AND THE LIKE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 14, 1962 IN1/wrox. Z'O/VALD 5I. SMALL BY 66W #471% Nav. 10, 1964 D. 1. SMALL CARTON CONSTRUCTION FOR RIFLES AND THE LIKE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 14, 1962 `NVENTR.

, PON/QLD SMALL man 15? S mwN NNW

United States Patent 3,156,351 CARTON CONSTRUCTION FOR RIFLES AND THE LIKE Donald I. Small, West Springfield, Mass., assigner to Longview Fibre Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 14, 1962, Ser. No. 244,675 19 Claims. (Cl. 206-46) The present invention relates to improvements in carton constructions.

The object of the invention is to simplify and improve cartons employed in packing and shipping rifles, shotguns and similar freams.

Another object is to reduce the cost of cartons for such fireams.

A further object is to accommodate several different models of rifles or the like in a given carton to thereby reduce the number of different cartons which must be carried in inventory by a gun manufacturer.

These ends are attained by employing a unitary onepiece carton blank which is folded in a manner giving maximum protection to the rifle or the like packed therein. Various panels of the carton are folded in a unique manner to position and protect the firearm packed in the carton. In certain instances filler pieces may be advantageous to further insure better protection where components of the firearm are dissembled.

The above and other related objects and features of the invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description of the disclosure found in the accompanying drawings and the novelty thereof pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a plan View of a carton construction embodying the present invention and taken subs-tantially along line I-I in FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a section of this carton taken on line II-II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section on an enlarged scale taken on line III-III in FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a section on an enlarged scale taken on line IVIV in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a section on an enlarged scale taken on line V-V in FIG. l;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the carton blank employed in forming the carton of FIGS. 1-5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of another embodiment of the invention and taken generally on line VII-VII in FIG. 8;

FIG. 8 is a section taken of line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a section on an enlarged scale taken on line IX-IX in FIG. 7;

FIG. l is a section on an enlarged scale taken on line X-X in FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a plan View of the blank employed in forming the carton of FIGS. 7-10;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of another embodiment of the invention taken on line XI-XI in FIG. 13;

FIG. 13 is a section taken on line XIII-XIII in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a section on an enlarged scale taken on line XIV-XIV in FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a section on an enlarged scale taken on line XV-XV in FIG. 12;

FIG. 16 is a section taken on line XVI-XVI in FIG. 12;

FIG. 17 is a section taken on line XVII-XVII in FIG. l2; and

FIG. 18 is a plan View of the blank employed in forming the carton of FIGS. 12-17.

The embodiment of FIGS. lwill first be described. This carton is intended primarily for rifles or other similar Patented Nov. 1o, 1964 firearms which are shipped with the barrel attached to the stock. A rifle R comprising a stock s and barrel b is shown in the drawings as it would be packaged for shipment.

The carton is a one-piece construction preferably formed of corrugated paper board stock but shown in the drawings as a single thickness for clarity of illustration. In the following description reference may also be had to FIG. 6 which shows the blank from which this carton is formed. The carton comprises a front wall 20 and a rear wall 22 folded upwardly from a bottom wall 24. Two top panels 26 and 28 are folded inwardly from the top of the front Wall 20 in parallel spaced relation to the bottom wall 24. The panel 26 is maintained in this position by a vertical panel 30 which is biased relative to the front wall 20 and a horizontal panel 32 laying against the bottom wall 24 with its outer edge 34 engaging the rear wall 22. The panels 30 and 32 are extensions of the panel 26. A vertical panel 36 biased relative to the front wall 2t) is folded downwardly in the rear central portion of panel 28 and has a further panel 38 at its bottom end which is folded to lie on the bottom wall 24 and engage the rear wall 22 at its outer edge. A vertical panel 40 is folded downwardly from the rear right hand end of panel 28 and lies against the rear wall 22 with its lower edge engaging the bottom wall 24. The left hand end of panel 28 terminates in a cut edge 41 which abuts the rear wall 22.

The right hand end wall comprises a panel 42 folded upwardly from the bottom wall 24 and a second panel 44 folded over and against two flaps 46, 46 which are folded inwardly from the front and rear walls Ztl, 22 respectively The panel 44 is provided with a short tongue 47 (best seen in FIG. 6) which enters a slot 49 in the bottom wall 24. A three-section flap 50 is integral with the front edge of panel 44 and is reversely folded to dispose its inner two sections between the end wall and the butt of stock s. The third section of flap S0 lays against the front wall 20. A ap 52 is also folded inwardly from the rear flap 44 and lies generally against the rear wall 22.

The left hand end wall is similar in construction comprising reversely folded panels 54, 56 integral with the bottom wall 24, with flaps 58, 60 (see also FIG. 6) sandwiched therebetween. A tongue 59 projects from panel 56 and enters a slot 61 in the bottom wall 24. The flaps 58, 60 are folded inwardly from the front and rear walls respectively. A flap 62 is folded inwardly from the rear of panel 56 against the rear wall 22.

A top wall or cover 64 is folded from the upper end of the rear wall against the panels 2S, 30 and is held in place by down-bent, undercut tabs 66, which are forced into slots 68. End flaps 70 are folded downwardly from the top wall 64 and disposed between `the end walls and the panels 28 and 30 respectively.

The rifle R is shown as it would be packaged in the described carton. The rifle lies on its side on the bottom wall 24. The upper surface of the stock s is contiguous with the front wall 20 with the barrel b angled or biased away from the front wall. The biased vertical panel 3l) is contiguous with the upper surface of the barrel b. The barrel b and stock s are held against the vertical panel 30 and front wall 20 respectively by the biased vertical panel 36 engaging the undersurface of the stock in the area of the receiver at a point along the length of the rifle intermediate these other two points or lines of engagement. The rifle thus may vary to some extent in both length and proportions and still be held firmly in place; primarily this arrangement will accommodate variations in rifle length without requiring any modification of the carton or packaging procedure.

The butt end of the stock is particularly protected with the toe of the butt engaging the right hand endwall.

The heel of the butt is protected by three thicknesses of material in the end wall plus an additional two thicknesses provided by the folded sections of flap 50 which accommodate any variations in spacing which might occur between the heel and the endwall. This is of particular importance since the stock is most vulnerable to breakage as a result of the carton being dropped on its right front corner with a resultant blow generally in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1. Flaps 46, 48 and 60 provide additional protection for the rife at the corner of the carton.

lt will also be seen that a tongue 72 is struck from the vertical panel 3ft integral with panel 32. This results in a slot 74 for receiving the front rifle sight as can be seen in FIG. 5.

The described carton will accommodate either bolt action or lever action rifles, the lever action being indicated by phantom outline. In the case of bolt action rifles, it is customary that the bolt be removed during shipping. The bolt may be conveniently and effectively packed in this same carton by the illustrated cradle formed by alternately struck tongues 76 in the panel 26, Preferably a head tongue 7S is struck in alignment with the row of tongues 76 to locate the front end of the bolt.

FlG. 6 illustrates the blank employed in forming the carton described in FIGS. 1-5. Cut edges are indicated by solid lines and fold lines are indicated by dash lines. The fold lines may be cut-scored or creased-scored, whichever a person skilled in the art might deem best. Further discussion of how this blank is formed into the carton is not deemed necessary.

FIGS. 7-10 illustrates an embodiment of the invention which is adapted for packaging Shotguns or other firearms which are dismantled in shipment. This carton is specifically designed for shipping a shotgun of the type having a barrel b, stock s and fore-end f which are dissembled and packed as separate items.

The carton comprises a bottom wall 100 and front and rear walls 102, 104 folded upwardly therefrom. Panels 1%, 167 are folded inwardly from the top of the front wall 102 in parallel spaced relation -to the bottom wall 1119. The panel 166 is supported by a vertical panel 198 extending for approximately one-half the length of the panel 1% and folded downwardly therefrom. The panel 16S is biased relative to the front wall 102 toward the center thereof. An upright panel 110 is connected to the vertical panel 198 by a short panel 112 lying against the bottom wall 1110. A flap 114 is folded from the left end of panel 11G back toward the front wall. A flap 116 is folded down from the panel 105 over the flap 114 to hold the latter in place and maintain the panel 110 upright. The panel 1&6 is further braced in place by a panel 118 folded from the right hand portion of the lower end of vertical panel 108 against the lower wall 100 and with its outer edge 119 engaging the rear wall 104.

The left hand end of the panel 197 is supported by a biased vertical panel 121) folded downwardly therefrom and a panel 122 folded from the lower end of panel 120 against the bottom wall 100 with its outer edge engaging the rear wall 184. The right hand end of panel 107 is supported by a biased vertical panel 124 folded downwardly therefrom and a panel 126 folded from the lower end of panel 124 against the lower wall 10) with its outer edge engaging the rear wall 1G41.

Construction of the right hand end wall is essentially the same as that of the corresponding wall of the previously described carton. Thus panels 128, 130 are reversely folded and embrace front and side wall flaps 132, 134. A locking tab 136 projects from panel 130 and enters a slot 138 in the bottom wall 100. Certain elements just described are best seen in FIG. 11. A three-section tab 140 extends from the front end of panel 13@ with the inner two sections being reversely folded and the outer section laying against the front wall 102.

A flap 142 is folded from the rear end of panel 130 against the rear wall 104.

Construction of the left hand wall is also similar. Panels 144, 14d are reversely folded and embrace flaps 148, 15G projecting from the front and rear panels respectively. A locking tongie 147 enters a slot 149 in the bottom wall 109 to hold the end wall in assembled relation as is best seen in FIG. 11. A reversely folded two-section flap 152 extends from the panel 146 and lies generally parallel to the rear wall 164.

A top wail or cover 154 is folded from the upper end of the rear wall 104 against the panels 106, 107 and is held in place by undercut locking tabs 156 which enter slots formed by tongues 15S integral with the front wall 162 and struck from the panels 166, 107. Flaps 160 are folded down from the cover 154 and lie against panels 136 and 146 of the right and left hand end walls.

FIG. 7 is the principal view showing the shotgun assembled in the described carton. The left hand end of the barrel lies between the vertical panel 111) and rear wall 104 and is spaced from the left hand end wall by the folded flap 152 which engages a recessed portion of the hardware employed in attaching the stock to the barrel. Gun barrels come in different lengths, usually three sizes in two-inch increments. The illustrated barrel is of an intermediate length. While the present carton is essentially a one-piece construction, a filler piece 164 forernd by a folded, four or ve section corrugated strip, is preferably placed between the outer end of the barrel and the right hand end wall of the carton. Two filler pieces would be used for a shorter barrel and none for a longer barrel.

The fore-end f is packed in the compartment defined by the panels 1th? and 168. The illustrated fore-end piece is for a double-barrel and has a taper approximating the angle between the front wall MP2 and the vertical panel 108 so that it is held in place away from the stock s. A fore-end piece for a single-barrel shot `gun (as indicated by the phantom lines) would be packed in the compartment defined by the panels 103, 111) and would have a projection which could enter a 4slot 162 and thus be locked in place in the carton.

The stock is packed in the compartment defined by the panels 107, and 124. The left hand edge of the vertical panel 1508 engages what is essentially an undercut portion on the stock and positions the heel of the butt against the right hand end wall of the carton. The folded flap provides additional protection for the .toe of the butt as in the other carton. It will be noted that the bias of the vertical walls 120, 12d closely approximates the outline of the stock when it is thus positioned against the front wall 1192.

While both the stock and fore-end are locked in place by the divergently biased vertical panels 103 and 120, 124, it may also be desirable to place a filler piece 166 between the fore-end and the stock. The filler piece 166 is the same as the filler piece 164 only wit-h the middle two sections reversely folded and the outer sections resting on the bottom wall 1G43.

The blank for forming the carton, just described, is shown in FG. 1l. The blank is preferably formed of corrugated paper stock and the various fold lines for the panels are indicated by dash lines. The fold lines may be cut or crease-scored according to the practices of those skilled in the art. Further description of the blank itself is not deemed necessary in view of the detailed description of the assembled carton.

FIGS. 12 through 16 show an alternate version of the present carton for shipping rifles or other firearms where a stock s is disassembled from a barrel b and two major components are to be shipped.

This carton comprises a bottom wall 290 having front and side walls 202 and 294 folded upwardly therefrom. The central portion of the front wall 262 is of an intermediate height and has a panel 296 folded therefrom in parallel spaced relation with the bottom wall 200 to separate the carton into upper and lower compartments. The panel 206 is supported by a vertical panel 203 which rests on the bottom wall 260. The panel 266 has portions 207, 209 which project beyond the panel 208 and engage the rear wall 204. One side edge of the portion 209 also engages the right end wall, all to give rigidity to the carton. A ap 210 extends from the left hand end of the panel portion 207 and has two sections adjacent thereto which are reversely folded into an upstanding brace 211 with .the outer section of the flap 210 lying on the same level as the panel 206 and engaging the left hand end wall.

The construction of the right hand end wall of the car-ton comprises panels 212, 214 extending from lthe bottom wall 200 and reversely folded to embrace flaps 216 and 213 (see also HG. 18) which are bent inwardly from the front and rear walls respectively. Flaps 220 and 222 are folded inwardly in superposed relationship from the panel 214 and are disposed between the panel 214 and flaps 216, 218. A locking tongue 224 (see FIG. 18) projects from the panel 214 and enters into a slot 226 in the bottom wall 260 to hold the end wall in its assembled relation.

The right hand end wall comprises a panel 228 folded inwardly from the left hand end of the rear wall 204. A panel 230 is folded inwardly from the left hand end of the front wall 202 and lies against the inner face of panel 228, A panel 232 is folded from the top end of the panel 228 downwardly to embrace the ap 230. The panel 232 has a tongue 234 (see FlG. 18) struck from an adjacent panel 236 which enters the slot 238 formed in a panel 240 at the lower end of the panel 228. The tongue 234 enters the slot 238 to hold the left hand end wall in its assembled condition. The panel 240 lies against the upper surface of the bottom wall 200 and the panel 236 then lies on the panel 240. At the front end of the panel 236 (FIG. 13) a panel 242 is folded upwardly and a flap 244 is folded toward the left hand wall. At the rear end of the panel 236 (FIG. 17) a shorter panel 246 is folded upwardly and a flap 24S is then folded from the upper end thereof into engagement with the left hand end wall.

Referring again to the panel 240, it will be seen that a panel 256 at its front end is folded into an upright position against the panels 242 and 246. The rear portion of this panel has a Hap 252 which is folded toward the left hand end wall and is maintained in this position by a downwardly bent tab 254 which enters slots 253, 255 formed in the flap 230 and panel 232.

A cover on top wall 256 is folded inwardly from the upper end of the rear wall 204 in parallel spaced relation to the panel 206. A front ap 257 is folded downwardly from the front edge of the top wall 254 and rests on the panel 266. The end portions 258 of the flap 257 are coextensive in height with the end portions of the front wall 202 and are disposed inside of those portions of the front wall to rest on the bottom wall 200. Locking tabs 260 extend from the lower end of the flap 256 and enter slots in the panel 206 which are created by tongues 262 (FIG. 18) integral with the front wall 262 `and struck from the panel 206.

Particular care has been taken in the present carton to protect the sharp tang t seen at the inner end of the barrel b. This tang is inserted through aligned openings in the panels 246, 250 (created by tongues 264, 266 struck therein and best seen in FIG. 18). An abutment at the base of the tang engages the panel 250 to space the end of the tang from the left hand end wall. This delicate and sharp comb is inserted through aligned openings in the panels 246 and 250 created by tongues 264, 266 struck respectively therein. The solid part of the barrel engages the panel 250. The outer end of the barrel is received by holes 268, 270 and 272 formed in the aps 220, 222 and panel 272 respectively. The barrel is thus positioned in the lower of the two compartments of the carton. Where the barrel b is provided with a tubular magazine m, the vertical panel 208 is inserted therebetween as indicated in FIG. 15. Also, it will be seen that the cut tongue 278 in the portion 207 of panel 206 permits the bolt lever to project thereabove (FIG. 14). The stock of the rifle rests on its side on the panel 206 and is held in place by a tab 274 struck in part from the panel 206 and in part from the panel 208. The tab 274 is inserted into the trigger guard on the stock s. The left hand end of the tab 274 may be provided with a ap 276 and can be reversely folded to accommodate trigger guards of a shorter length. The front end of the stock is held against the front wall (or more precisely the front flap portion 258) by the brace 211. The butt of stock s preferably fits snugly between the front and rear Walls and against the right hand end wall. The rifle as thus described is securely held in place for shipment.

The blank for forming the previously described carton is shown in FIG. 18, with cut liner being shown in full and bold lines being shown by dash lines. The fold lines may be crease-scored or cut-scored, as would -best suit those skilled in the art who would use the carton. The carton material is again preferably corrugated paper stock. Further description of the blank itself is not deemed necessary in View of the detailed description of the erected carton.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as novel and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a carton construction in combination with a rifle comprising a stock attached to a barrel, said carton comprising a rectangular bottom wall, end walls and opposed front and rear walls, said rifle lying on its side on the bottom wall with the upper portion of the stock contiguous with one of said opposed Walls and the barrel biased relative to said opposed walls, a first top panel folded inwardly from the upper end of the front wall and a vertical panel folded downwardly from said first top panel, said vertical panel being biased relative to said front wall and in contiguous relation with the upper surface of the rifle barrel adjacent the outer end thereof, a second top panel folded inwardly from the top of said front wall, said second top panel having a vertical panel folded downwardly therefrom in contiguous relation with the lower surface of the rifle at a point lengthwise of the rie intermediate the points where the first vertical panel is contiguous with the upper surface of the barrel and the upper surface of l the stock is contiguous with said one opposed wall.

2. A carton construction as in claim 1 wherein the upper surface of the stock is contiguous with the front wall of the carton and a horizontal panel is folded from the lower end of the first Vertical panel against the bottom wall with its outer edge engaging the rear wall, said second vertical panel is disposed at the end of the second top panel adjacent the first top panel and is of a limited length longitudinally ofthe carton, said second vertical panel having a horizontal panel folded from its lower end against the bottomv wall, with the outer edge of the second horizontal panel engaging the rear wall and also wherein the second top panel has a portion projecting beymd the second Vvertical panel and engaging the rear wal 3. A carton construction as in claim 1 wherein the rifle further comprises a bolt dissembled therefrom and a series of tongues are alternately struck fromV the first top panel on opposite sides of a longitudinal line to form a cradle in which said bolt is received.

4. A unitary carton construction in combination with a ritie comprising a stock attached to a barrel, said carton comprising a rectangular bottom wall, and front and rear walls folded upwardly therefrom, and end Walls each comprising an outer panel folded upwardly from the bottom wall, an inner panel reversely folded from said outer panel, said front and Lrear walls respectively having end aps folded ,inwardly therefrom and disposed between the panels of the end walls, and means for locking the inner panels relative to the bottom wall, said rifle lying on its side on the bottom wall with the upper portion of the stock contiguous with the front wall and the barrel biased relative to the front wall, a first top panel folded inwardly from the top wall and parallel to the bottom wall, said first top panel having a side edge adjacent one end wall and being longitudinally coextensive with a substantial length of the rifle barrel, a vertical panel folded downwardly from said first top panel, said vertical panel being biased relative to said front wall and in contiguous relation with the upper surface of the rilie barrel, a bottom panel folded inwardly from the lower end of said vertical panel and lying against said bottom wall with the outer edge thereof engaging the rear wall, a second top panel folded inwardly from the top of said front wall and overlying said rifie, said second top panel being adjacent the first top panel and extending longitudinally to a point adjacent said other end wall, a second vertical panel folded downwardly from said second top panel and having a relatively short longitudinal length commencing at the edge of said second top panel adjacent the first top panel, a second bottom panel folded from the lower end of said second vertical panel against said bottom wall with the outer edge thereof engaging the rear wall, said second vertical panel being biased relative to said front panel and in contiguous relation with the lower surface of the rifie at a point lengthwise of the ritie intermediate the points where the first vertical panel is contiguous with the upper surface of the barrel and the upper surface of the stock is contiguous with the front panel, the remainder of the second top panel extending to the rear wall and having a third vertical panel folded downwardly therefrom and resting on the bottom wall, the

inner panel of the end Wall -adjacent the stock having a three-section flap, the inner two sections of which are reversely folded and disposed between the heel of the rifle and the adjacent end wall and the third or outer ap of which is disposed between the stock and the front wall, and a cover folded from the upper end of the rear panel against said top panels and means for releasably securing said top wall.

5. A carton construction as in claim 4 wherein the riiie further comprises a bolt dissembled therefrom and a series of tongues are alternately struck from the first top panel on opposite sides of a longitudinal line to form a cradle in which said bolt is received.

6. In a carton construction in combination with a dissembled shotgun comprising as separate items a barrel, a stock and a fore-end, said carton comprising bottom, front, rear and end walls, means locking the barrel between the end walls adjacent and generally parallel to the rear wall and integral top panel means folded inwardly from the front wall and forming two compartments receiving and separating, respectively, the stock and the fore-end from each other and from the barrel.

7. A unitary carton construction in combination with a dissembled shotgun comprising as separate items a barrel, a stock and a fore-end, said carton comprising bottom, front, rear and end walls, means locking the barrel between the end walls adjacent and generally parallel to the rear wall, a first top panel folded inwardly from said front wall adjacent one end wall and overlying the fore-end and a vertical panel folded downwardly from said first top panel, said vertical panel being biased outwardly from the central portion of said front wall in contiguous relation to the fore-end thus forming a compartment therefor, a second top panel folded inwardly from the front wall and disposed between the first top panel and the other end wall, said second top panel overlying the stock and having a vertical wall folded downwardly therefrom, said second vertical wall being biased relative to said front wall outwardly of the center thereof, thus forming a compartment for said stock, said stock being disposed in the compartment there- CJI 8 for with one side lying on the bottom wall, the butt thereof adjacent said other end and the upper surface contiguous with the front wall and the side edge of the first vertical panel engaging an undercut portion of said stock, a top wall folded from said rear wall in overlying relation to said top panels7 and means securing said top wall in said overlying relation.

8. A carton as in claim 7 wherein a horizontal panel is folded from the lower end of the first vertical panel toward the rear wall and a further vertical panel is folded upwardly therefrom in spaced relation to said rst verticalpanel to provide a compartment for an alternate type of fore-end and further where a slot is formed in the first vertical panel to provide means for locking such alternate fore-end in the compartment therefor.

9. A carton as in claim 7 wherein the barrel has an undercut portion at one end and the means for locking the barrel comprise a reversely folded flap projecting from the end wall adjacent the first top panel and entering said undercut portion.

l0. in a carton construction in combination with a rifle or the like comprising a dissembled stock and barrel, said carton comprising a bottom wall and front, rear and end walls and an integral horizontal panel folded inwardly from the front wall and disposed parallel to the bottom wall and spaced therefrom and separating the carton into upper and lower compartments, means positioning the barrel in one of said compartments and means positioning the stock in the other of said compartments, a top wall folded inwardly from the rear wall and overlying said horizontal panel in spaced relation thereto and a flap depending from top wall and closing the opening in the front of the carton created by folding said horizontal panel inwardly of the front wall, and means securing said flap in said depending position.

ll. A unitary carton construction in combination with a rifle or the like comprising a dissembled stock and barrel, said carton comprising a bottom wall and front and rear walls folded upwardly therefrom and end walls, a horizontal panel folded inwardly from the central portion of the front wail at a height intermediate the height of the end portions of the front wall dividing the carton into upper and lower compartments, means for positioning the barrel in the lower compartment, said stock being disposed in the upper compartment and lying on its side, means for positioning said stock in the upper compartment, a top wall folded inwardly from the rear wall and overlying said stock, said top wall having a front flap folded downwardly therefrom and resting on said horizontal panel and means for releasably locking said front iiap in place.

l2. A carton construction as in claim 11 wherein the Ibarrel has a tang at its inner end and the means for positioning the barrel comprise a recess in one end wall receiving the outer end of the barrel and apertured panel means receiving the tang and spacing same from the other end of the barrel, with the barrel adjacent and generally parallel to the rear wall, and further wherein the horizontal panel has a vertical supporting panel folded downwardly therefrom in contiguous relation with the surface of the barrel opposite the rear wall.

i3. A carton construction as in claim 12 wherein the one end wall is compositely formed by a plurality of thicknesses of carton material and the inner layers have aligned openings forming the recess for receiving the outer end of said barrel, the outer of said plurality of thicknesses closing off said recess, and further wherein the apertured panel means comprise two upright panels having aligned apertures, a first short horizontal panel resting on the bottom and from which one upright panel is foided upwardly, an outer end panel to which the first short horizontal panel is connected, said outer end panel being connected to the rear wall, a second short horizontal panel lying on said first short horizontal panel and from which the second upright panel is folded upwardly in contiguous relation with the first upright panel, an inner end panel connected to the outer end panel and the second short horizontal panel, and flaps folded from the upper ends of the upright panels in spaced relation with the short horizontal panels and engaging the inner end wall panel.

14. A carton construction as in claim 11 wherein a ap extends from the horizontal panel and is reversely folded to form a brace for positioning the stock against the front ap.

15. A carton construction as in claim 14 wherein the stock has a trigger guard and a tab is folded upwardly and enters said trigger guard to position the stock.

16. A carton construction as in claim 1 wherein an integral top wall is folded from said rear wall in overlying relation to said top panels and secured in said overlying relation.

17. A carton construction as in claim 6 wherein an in- 4tegral top wall is folded from said rear wall in overlying relation to said top panels and secured in said overlying relation.

18. In a carton construction in combination with a rifle having a stock end and a barrel end with the barrel being disposed at an angle relative to said stock, said carton comprising a rectangular bottom wall, end walls and opposed front and rear walls, said rifle lying on its side on the bottom wall with the upper surface of one end contiguous with one of said opposed walls and with its opposite end angled toward the other opposed wall, a first panel folded inwardly from the top of the front wall and a depending panel folded downwardly about a fold line from said first panel, said fold line being biased relative to said front wall and said depending panel being in contiguous relation with the angularly disposed end of the rifle adjacent theV outer end thereof, a second top panel folded inwardly from the top of said front wall and having a depending panel folded downwardly therefrom in contiguous relation with the opposite side of said angularly disposed end of the rifle at a point lengthwise of the rifle intermediate the points Where the rst dependent panel is contiguous therewith and the upper surface of the rifle is contiguous with the front wall.

19. A carton construction as in claim 18 wherein an integral top Wall is folded from said rear wall in overlying relation to said top panels and secured in said overlying relation.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,798,333 Marlowe et al Mar. 31, 1931 2,121,982 Pugsley June 28, 1938 2,487,528 Dawson Nov. 8, 1944 2,783,929 Delaney Mar. 5, 1957 

1. IN A CARTON CONSTRUCTION IN COMBINATION WITH A RIFLE COMPRISING A STOCK ATTACHED TO A BARREL, SAID CARTON COMPRISING A RECTANGULAR BOTTOM WALL, END WALLS AND OPPOSED FRONT AND REAR WALLS, SAID RIFLE LYING ON ITS SIDE ON THE BOTTOM WALL WITH THE UPPER PORTION OF THE STOCK CONTIGUOUS WITH ONE OF SAID OPPOSED WALLS AND THE BARREL BIASED RELATIVE TO SAID OPPOSED WALLS, A FIRST TOP PANEL FOLDED INWARDLY FROM THE UPPER END OF THE FRONT WALL AND A VERTICAL PANEL FOLDED DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID FIRST TOP PANEL, SAID VERTICAL PANEL BEING BIASED RELATIVE TO SAID FRONT WALL AND IN CONTIGUOUS RELATION WITH THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE RIFLE BARREL ADJACENT THE OUTER END THEREOF, A SECOND TOP PANEL FOLDED INWARDLY FROM THE TOP OF SAID FRONT WALL, SAID SECOND TOP PANEL HAVING A VERTICAL PANEL FOLDED DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM IN CONTIGUOUS RELATION WITH THE LOWER SURFACE OF THE RIFLE AT A POINT LENGTHWISE OF THE RIFLE INTERMEDIATE THE POINTS WHERE THE FIRST VERTICAL PANEL IS CONTIGUOUS WITH THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE BARREL AND THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE STOCK IS CONTIGUOUS WITH SAID ONE OPPOSED WALL 